Appearance
Name
Tatsuya Yamazaki
Age
23
SHSL
Street Fighter
Personality
Some people just aren't to be messed with, and Tatsuya is, without question, that kind of person. Mentored by a legendary martial artist in his youth, only to later take to the merciless streets in the pursuit of a more notorious kind of career, Tatsuya has lead a life revolving around fighting to prove one's worth, both in the way of honour and as a means of survival. Sharp and prideful, his hyper-aggressive lifestyle has created a rather guarded individual who refuses to be lead by others. Tatsuya adopts a calculating front and is cold and unforgiving towards most people, especially those who do not possess a similar type of rational outlook as his, or who just outright fail to understand or appreciate him. Blunt and judgmental, people tend not to create the best impression of him both personality and appearance-wise, of which he in turn is generally rather uncaring. While often appearing casual in posture, he exudes a certain tense air about him that belies his vigilance; he has never been quick to trust, nor does he expect others to invest their trust in him.
Rather indifferent towards most people he meets and converses with, his approach can generally be narrowed down to one of four kinds; calm, apathetic, sardonic or irate. He is not necessarily opposed to social interaction, but will avoid others if he thinks it convenient. He is also highly prone to physical aggression; if agitated, provocation will likely elicit sarcasm or annoyance. Direct insults will invite violence. Having been diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder in the past, it should be no surprise that the smallest things can annoy him on impulse and turn his mood sour. While he's managed to improve his behaviour over time, appearing relatively composed and learning to withdraw instead from that which irritates him, it does not take much to shove him off the edge and make him see red, if only momentarily, and this is often enough to have him commit something he'd later regret.
While Tatsuya is a man of many flaws, he does have some good points which are better not overlooked. Physically he is very adept, of unquestionable agility, strength and stamina. Ambidextrous in weapon control, his skill in hybrid martial artistry is not to be underestimated. He is not particularly knowledgeable, but is vigilant and notably intelligent, a quick learner keen in picking up on details and swift in interpreting a situation by way of observation. When calm he is rather reasonable in his approach to most matters, having no care for drama and instead dealing with issues as swiftly and effectively as possible. Moreover, contrary to what other people may believe, he does have a conscience and rarely enjoys seeing others suffer. If help is genuinely requested from him, he may initially seem hesitant or reluctant, but more often than not he will extend a hand. The best way to earn his regard is to treat him with respect; he has a very do-unto-others attitude, and if he feels he is being treated fairly, then he will return the favour in the form of decent company. That said, he still falls short in the sympathy department by a fair mile, so if you're looking for a shoulder to cry on it'll take a long time before he'd ever offer his own. This is not to say he is incapable of feeling pity, but relaying such emotions is another matter altogether. Being incredibly prideful, apologising to others does not come easily to him either, much preferring to pretend his indifference instead. You can be certain, however, that Tatsuya learns from his mistakes the first time, and is unlikely to mess up again.
Final Memory
At at time like this, it was hard for Tatsuya to say there was joy in living. Surviving, preserving one's life, it was all rather tiring. It was frustrating, irritating, to witness your livelihood suffer as a result of the foolish and selfish acts of others, to see society wither under the infuriating guise of 'Despair'. Annoyed and weary, coming to terms with a world that was gradually tending towards destruction formed no easy feat, and Tatsuya was left agitated and restless as he sought a tranquility of mind he had never successfully captured in the first place.
Despite it being so, very little proved capable of shaking the SHSL Street Fighter's resolve.
While their dilapidated world teemed with vessels of Despair, robotic, human or in mass, Tatsuya had created an understanding long ago that to give up despite the odds was a deplorable thing. If this world burned to ash, he would of course burn along with it, but at least he would meet his end attempting to salvage it. Self-preservation, stability of mind, even his
conscience depended upon a world that favored order, and damned was he if he didn't at least assist in recovering what he could of the Earth they once knew. Humanity was nearing complete disarray, but Tatsuya had retained his individual sense of purpose, and that, to him, was all that mattered. As long as he kept on fighting, physically and mentally, against those who sought his destruction, against those who gnawed at the backbone to his resolve, there remained some reason for him to stay alive...
Although he had to admit, this was an era suited to him in its truest sense. Tatsuya could not remember a time that his biceps and calves had burned so sorely as they had in recent months, but all the sparring and brawling he'd dedicated himself to throughout the course of his life seemed to manifest in a time where the word 'Tragedy' had become synonymous with widespread violence. It was not difficult for him to adapt to the sudden and intemperate lifestyle he'd been thrown upon, because ultimately he sensed his lifeblood in this. While his days of delinquency, of material infamy, impulse and aggression seemed eons prior, Tatsuya could not help but see the shadows of his past in most of what he now faced. It had just become normalized, that was all. It had crawled up from the underground and people now fought for reasons inane, but to him it was still just make-shift weapons and worn knuckles and the ever-present blood-lust that wrought a man in pursuit of the life of another...
And Tatsuya was used to this.
If it were not a matter of self-defense, as had become regular for him most times he ventured outwards, then defeating the Despairs one at a time worked perfectly for him. He did not bother to hide from them. Given the relatively widespread use of explosives and ammunition there was always the need to exercise caution when approached by a mob of the sort, but so far the SHSL Street Fighter remained in one piece and many of those who challenged him on reckless impulse had not been so lucky. Each time he had managed to best his assailants, he would wonder what had driven them to
this point, because it was Despair that fueled the minds of the deluded, of course it was, but what did that say of one's pride, their self-regard, the ability to exercise independent thinking and fight back against the brutal, senseless notion that so evidently controlled them? Weak will, Tatsuya decided at some point upon ramming the head of an idiot who'd come barreling at him with a crowbar into the nearest brick wall. They were not fighting with the will to live, but these people took to belligerence as though they were ready to die.
And what a disgusting thing that was.
Tiring, too. It was always very tiring, once the adrenaline rush had up and passed, and fresh wounds came of notice. Today was the same. In the midst of treating new injuries, Tatsuya stood before the bathroom mirror and attempted to rid himself of any meaningless thoughts by slapping both hands over his face and rubbing at his eyes to better rouse himself; his body felt awfully stiff and he still felt rather exhausted, honestly. It was just hard to earn a full night's sleep anymore. He was unsettled, and for once it made him crave the tranquil days of his early childhood, the time spent in the mountains training with his grandfather and-
No, let's not go there... These were things irrecoverable; there was no point lingering on them now, was there?
At the very least, the Future Foundation offered some form of respite in the place of the things Tatsuya had since lost. The man never considered being reunited with old schoolmates to be
reassuring as such, but having a community to rely upon, to dedicate his efforts towards, it grounded him. As such, he found himself spending a fair amount of time in the way of the organisation and its efforts at restoration. He had faith in them too. Collectively, their talents combined, they could make a difference, gradually returning order to their fractured society. Drawn together, what could inhibit them? Nothing...
nothing, save for...
A sensation like muddied water continued to leak into his conscious. His fingers faltered from the doors of the medicine cabinet, frowning as his grip on the basin tightened in his attempts at keeping himself upright against a very sudden and unexpected wooziness, yet still he staggered.
"Fuck..."
The darkness that clouded his mind and vision issued in thick, unnatural pulses, each growing larger than the next. Fatigue assaulted his limbs and he realised an abrupt need to sit, but had hardly turned before felt no choice but to lower himself to the bathroom floor with a quiet groan, covering his face from the light. His head felt leaden... what in the world was this? For all he knew of tenacity in body and soul, the unbidden call for unconsciousness was strong, his bewilderment overshadowed by a deadening mind. How annoying...
His hands fell away as he succumbed to an unknown sedative, and a loud thump echoed from somewhere in his apartment, like that of a slamming door. He did not have it in him to respond, registering this vaguely. It hurt to open the eyes now, but the last thing he made note of before his sentience had departed him completely...
Was strange, a wicked, high-pitched laughter... or was this but the product of an addled mind...?
"Upupupu..."
((Not my best writing but it's 9 AM I haven't slept yet so I'm gonna go get three or four hours in, kill me, rip, I will try and post in the IC later tonight hopefully aaaa I hope this is okay //cry))